- Russia’s forces are intensifying efforts to seize Severodonetsk, the ultimate Ukrainian strongpoint within the Luhansk area.
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his nation is ready to trade its troops who surrendered on the Azovstal metal plant in Mariupol for Russian prisoners.
- A Russia negotiator says Moscow will think about exchanging prisoners from Ukraine’s Azov battalion for Viktor Medvedchuk, a rich Ukrainian businessman near President Vladimir Putin. He didn’t specify the variety of prisoners thought-about for the trade.
- Russian vitality big Gazprom says it had stopped all pure fuel provides to Finland because it had not obtained cost in roubles.
Listed here are all the newest updates:
Russia bans greater than 960 People from getting into nation
Russia has launched an inventory of 963 People who’ve been “completely banned” from getting into the nation in response to US sanctions associated to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
One among them is Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman, 84, who had appeared in a video in 2017 that accused the Russian authorities of meddling with American democracy.
Russia’s international ministry mentioned the folks on the listing, which embrace a number of useless politicians, just like the late senator John McCain, “incite Russophobia”.
Ukraine will seemingly turn out to be ‘federation’: Russian official
A Russian politician and Putin’s appointed consultant to the annexed area of Crimea says Ukraine is unlikely to live on in its present type, Russia’s state information company RIA reviews.
Georgy Muradov advised Ukraine would seemingly turn out to be a federation, or a bunch of states.
He added that no nation that respects itself would tolerate a flagrant violation of the rights of its personal folks in neighbouring states, invoking the argument Moscow generally makes use of for having invaded Ukraine.
“And much more so if these makes an attempt lead to outright extermination of individuals, as occurred in recent times with regard to Russians and Russian-speakers in Ukraine, the place they lived for hundreds of years of their fatherland,” he mentioned.
Ukraine’s first woman in uncommon interview with Zelenskyy
Ukraine’s First Woman Olena Zelenska has given a uncommon interview together with her husband on Ukrainian tv, solely the second time the couple have been seen collectively because the starting of the battle.
Zelenska described the evening she awoke listening to “bizarre sounds outdoors” and noticed her husband wasn’t close to her. She mentioned she walked into the following room and “he was already wearing a go well with, however with no tie”.
“I requested him what was happening and he mentioned, ‘It has began’,” Zelenska recalled.
“Our household was torn aside as each different Ukrainian household,” she mentioned, including the 2 hadn’t seen one another for 2 and a half months and spoke solely be phone.
Poland’s Duda to ship speech to Ukraine’s parliament
Poland’s president would be the first international head of state because the begin of the battle to talk on to Ukraine’s parliament.
Andrzej Duda is because of ship a speech to Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada on Sunday, Interfax reviews.
Sanctions ‘virtually damaged’ logistics in Russia: Minister
Russia’s transport minister has mentioned that worldwide sanctions have “virtually damaged” logistics within the nation, the state information company TASS has reported.
“The sanctions imposed on Russia… have virtually damaged all logistics in our nation. And we now have to search for new logistics corridors,” Vitaly Savelyev, mentioned on a go to to Russia’s southern port metropolis of Astrakhan, on the Caspian Sea
The brand new corridors for shifting items embrace a north-south route by way of two Caspian Sea ports: Olya and Makhachkala.
The minister’s feedback have been a uncommon admission from the Kremlin that sanctions meant to cripple Russia’s economic system are having a major impact.
Russia labels two high-profile critics as ‘international brokers’
Russia has added two Kremlin critics, former chess champion Garry Kasparov and former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, to its lengthy listing of “international brokers”.
The designation applies to many unbiased media firms, journalists and NGOs. Everybody on the listing is obliged to mark their publications with a disclaimer noting their “international agent” standing.
Soviet-born former world chess champion Kasparov is a longtime opponent of Putin and has lived within the US for nearly a decade.
Khodorkovsky, one in every of Russia’s strongest businessmen within the Nineties, spent ten years in Russian jail on what many see as falsified expenses, earlier than going into exile.
“Russian Justice Ministry” is an oxymoron underneath Putin. And I used to be representing my nation again when Putin was nonetheless spying on his colleagues in East Germany and stealing from the folks in St. Petersburg. Being anti-Putin is, and can at all times be, pro-Russian. https://t.co/u7jkvv4Eun
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) May 20, 2022
Russia once more accuses Ukraine of firing on Kursk area
The governor of Russia’s Kursk area has once more accused Ukraine of firing on its settlements, TASS information company reviews.
“Tetkino and close by residential areas have been subjected to Ukraine’s hearth as soon as once more,” Roman Starovoit mentioned on Saturday, including he would supply additional particulars on the state of affairs later.
The governor mentioned there have been no casualties or injury to infrastructure because of the assault.
Ukraine’s military deterring Russia’s assaults on Slovyansk, Severodonetsk: Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy has mentioned that Ukraine’s military has for days been deterring Russia’s advances on Slovyansk and Severodonetsk.
“The state of affairs in Donbas is extraordinarily tough. As in earlier days, the Russian military is attempting to assault Slovyansk and Severodonetsk. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are deterring this offensive,” Zelenskyy mentioned in his nighttime handle.
Russia’s defence minister mentioned on Friday that Moscow’s forces had virtually taken full management of Luhansk. Russia is intensifying its offensive on Severodonetsk, which is the final Ukrainian stronghold within the area.
Russian separatist says six males died at Azovstal throughout give up
A Russian separatist chief has mentioned that six Ukrainian fighters have been killed on the Azovstal metal plant throughout an evacuation process through which the fighters have been surrendering to the Russians in teams.
The self-proclaimed chief of the so-called Donetsk Folks’s Republic (DPR), Denis Pushilin, mentioned that this occurred on account of Ukrainian males blowing up their very own caches of ammunition.
“It’s unclear who did this, nobody is assuming duty, however after the principle group walked out… somebody ordered to explode ammunition caches… six folks died instantly, and, so far as I do know, 4 have been injured,” Pushilin mentioned on the Soloviev Stay YouTube channel on Saturday.
Pushilin additionally mentioned that an unknown variety of Ukrainian servicemen may nonetheless be on the Azovstal plant, including that they’d some shares of meals and water, however have been brief on medicines.
Russia has blocked 22 m tonnes of Ukraine’s meals exports: Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy has mentioned that Russia has blocked Ukraine from exporting 22 million tonnes of meals merchandise.
Talking with media after a gathering with Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, Zelenskyy mentioned if the worldwide neighborhood didn’t assist Ukraine unblock its ports, the vitality disaster could be adopted by a meals disaster.
“You’ll be able to unblock them in several methods. One of many methods is a army resolution. That’s the reason we flip to our companions with inquiries concerning the related weapons,” he added.
Practically 60 folks evacuated from Luhansk area: Governor
The Luhansk governor has mentioned 57 folks have been evacuated from the area on Saturday, including that it was very “sizzling” in Severodonetsk, Lysychansk and the village of Bilohorivka.
“The shelling doesn’t cease even for an hour. The Russians use artillery day and evening,” Serhey Haidai mentioned.
“Each lifetime of the 57 rescued from these communities is necessary to us as we speak. They’re intact and already protected,” he added.
Ukraine says agreeing to ceasefire with Russia will solely escalate battle
Ukraine’s presidential advisor has dismissed as “very unusual” calls within the West to barter an pressing ceasefire with Russia that will contain its forces remaining in territory they’ve occupied in Ukraine’s south and east.
Mykhailo Podolyak informed Reuters making concessions would backfire on Ukraine as a result of Russia would hit again tougher after any break in combating.
“Any concession to the Russian Federation would immediately result in an escalation of the battle. So the battle won’t cease. It’s going to simply be placed on pause for a while,” he mentioned.
“After some time, with renewed depth, the Russians will construct up their weapons, manpower and work on their errors, modernise somewhat, hearth many generals… And so they’ll begin a brand new offensive, much more bloody and enormous scale, bearing in mind all errors,” Podolyak added.
Russian forces intensify efforts to seize Severodonetsk: Assume-tank
Russian forces have intensified efforts to encircle and seize Ukraine’s Severodonetsk metropolis in Luhansk Oblast and can seemingly proceed to take action within the coming days, the Institute for the Examine of Struggle has mentioned.
“Russian troops in Luhansk will seemingly transfer to capitalise on latest features made within the Rubizhne-Severodonetsk-Luhansk-Popasna arc to encircle and besiege Severodonetsk – the ultimate Ukrainian strongpoint in Luhansk Oblast,” the US-based think-tank mentioned.
In line with ISW, Russian army bloggers are hypothesising on the success of Russian ways within the space and have dubbed it the “Battle of Severodonetsk”.
#Russian forces intensified efforts to encircle and seize #Severodonetsk on Might 21 and can seemingly proceed to take action within the coming days as efforts on different axes of advance, together with #Izyum, stay largely stalled.
Learn the complete report: https://t.co/RHILbQbQkH pic.twitter.com/z4KXCoCp6f
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) May 21, 2022
Ukrainian director denounces Russian presence at Cannes
Ukrainian director Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk has criticised the Cannes Movie Competition for together with a Russian director in its line-up.
The pageant has banned official Russian delegations from attending, however Russian dissident Kirill Serebrennikov, who has spoken out in opposition to the invasion of Ukraine, premiered his in-competition movie “Tchaikovsky’s Spouse” on the pageant on Wednesday.
“When he’s right here, he’s a part of the Russian propaganda, and so they can use him,” Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk informed Reuters.
The Russian director Serebrennikov had mentioned earlier this week that Russian tradition shouldn’t be boycotted, saying that his tradition “has at all times promoted human values”.
The Ukrainian director Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk described the feeling of being in Cannes whereas his nation fights in opposition to a Russian invasion as “alien”.
Girls amongst Azovstal fighters now prisoners of Russia: TASS information company
There are 78 girls among the many folks captured by Russian forces from the besieged Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, a pro-Russian separatist chief mentioned.
Russia’s TASS information company reported the Donetsk separatist chief Denis Pushilin as saying there have been additionally foreigners amongst these taken prisoner from the Azovstal steelworks. He didn’t state what number of foreigners have been taken prisoner.
“They’d sufficient meals and water, in addition they had sufficient weapons,” Pushilin informed TASS.
“The issue was the dearth of drugs,” he mentioned, referring to the Ukrainian forces that had held out on the metal plant.
Moscow might swap Ukraine prisoners for Putin ally Medvedchuk: Negotiator
Moscow will think about exchanging prisoners from Ukraine’s Azov battalion for Viktor Medvedchuk, a rich Ukrainian businessman near President Vladimir Putin, a Russian negotiator has mentioned.
“We’re going to examine the chance,” mentioned Leonid Slutsky, a senior member of Russia’s negotiating group on Ukraine, the RIA Novosti information company reported.
Slutsky didn’t say the variety of Azov fighters Moscow was contemplating for trade. A separatist chief in jap Ukraine has mentioned almost 2,500 Ukrainian fighters have been in custody and have been certain to face tribunals.
Medvedchuk, 67, is a politician and one in every of Ukraine’s richest folks and is understood for his shut ties to Putin. He escaped from home arrest after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February however was re-arrested by Ukrainian forces in mid-April.
Russian troops answerable for 7 civilians’ deaths: Ukraine governor
Ukraine says Russian forces are answerable for the deaths of seven civilians within the space of Donetsk within the east of the nation that’s underneath Moscow’s management.
Three folks have been killed within the city of Lyman alone, regional governor Pavlo Kirilenko wrote on Telegram.
In the meantime in Kherson, occupied by Russian forces, native directors accused Ukraine of killing three civilians and injuring 10 within the village of Biloserka, in a press release on Telegram.
Ukraine able to trade its troopers for Russian prisoners of battle: Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy says his nation is ready to trade its troops who surrendered on the Azovstal metal plant in Mariupol for Russian prisoners.
In an interview with a Ukrainian tv channel, Zelenskyy mentioned an important factor for him was to avoid wasting the utmost variety of folks and troopers. “We’ll deliver them dwelling,” he mentioned.
Russia claims to have taken full management of the besieged metropolis of Mariupol after the final group of Ukrainian troopers surrendered.
Zelenskyy talks to Italian PM, urges extra Russia sanctions
Zelenskyy has mentioned he talked to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and burdened the significance of extra sanctions on Russia and unblocking Ukrainian ports.
Zelenskyy tweeted that he had additionally thanked Draghi for his “unconditional help” of Ukraine’s bid to turn out to be a member of the EU. Draghi had initiated the decision, he mentioned.
Had a telephone dialog with #MarioDraghi at his initiative. Talked about defensive cooperation, the necessity to speed up the sixth bundle of sanctions and unblock Ukrainian ports. Thanked for the unconditional help for Ukraine on the trail to the #EU.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 21, 2022
Whats up and welcome to Al Jazeera’s persevering with protection of the battle in Ukraine.
Learn all of the updates from Saturday, Might 21 right here.